What is Shopify?

TL;DR

• Shopify lets you create your own online store, giving you full control over branding and pricing.

• Unlike Amazon, you own customer data, which helps build loyalty and repeat business.

• You can sell on multiple channels, including your website, social media, and Amazon.

• Shopify’s flexible pricing plans make it easy for both new and experienced sellers to start and scale.

• It works with Amazon FBA, allowing you to use Amazon’s fulfillment while selling on Shopify.

• Running ads on Shopify (Facebook, Google) can be more cost-effective than Amazon PPC.

In today’s world, selling online is a must. But where should you sell—Amazon, Shopify, or both?

Many sellers start on Amazon because it has a huge customer base. But they quickly face problems like too much competition, high ad costs, and no customer control. You can’t contact buyers directly or build a brand, marketplace rules, and many more. 

This is where Shopify helps. Unlike Amazon, Shopify lets you create your own store, control your brand, and build customer loyalty. You set the prices, collect emails for marketing, and grow your business on your terms. 

In this guide, we’ll explore what Shopify is, how it works, and why it’s a powerful tool for Amazon sellers. Whether you're a new or experienced seller, you'll learn practical ways to leverage Shopify to complement your Amazon business and drive more sales.

What is Shopify?

Shopify is an easy-to-use platform that helps businesses set up and run their own online stores. Unlike Amazon, where you compete with many sellers in a marketplace, Shopify lets you build your own brand, set your prices, and manage customer relationships directly.

How does Shopify work?

Shopify is a simple platform that helps you create and run an online store. You don’t need any technical skills and everything is easy to set up and manage.

Here’s how it works:

• Sign up & pick a plan – Start with a free trial and choose the right plan for your business.

• Set up your store – Select a theme, customize your store’s design, and add your logo. 

• Add your products – Upload product images, descriptions, and prices.

• Set up payments – Accept payments through Shopify Payments, PayPal, or credit cards.

• Choose shipping options – Set delivery rates and decide how you’ll ship products.

• Launch & start selling – Make your store live and promote it using social media and ads.

• Manage orders & grow – Track sales, manage inventory, and improve your store with Shopify’s tools.

Shopify also connects with Amazon, eBay, Facebook, and Instagram, making it easy to sell everywhere. With an easy-to-use dashboard and built-in features, Shopify is a great choice for you to sell online.

What is Shopify used for?

• Selling products online – You can sell both physical and digital items.

• Dropshipping – Start a business without storing products. Your supplier ships directly to customers.

• Selling in stores – Use Shopify POS to manage sales in both online and physical stores.

• Subscriptions – Offer membership plans or recurring product deliveries.

• Selling on social media – Connect your store to Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok to sell directly.

Who uses Shopify?

Shopify is for anyone who wants to sell online, including you!

• Amazon sellers – Expand beyond Amazon and build your own brand.

• Small business owners – Start and grow your own online store.

• Big brands – Companies like Tesla, Red Bull, and Gymshark trust Shopify.

• Dropshippers – Sell products without storing inventory.

• Print-on-demand sellers – Create and sell custom T-shirts, mugs, and more.

• Retail stores – Use Shopify POS to sell online and in person.

No matter your business size, Shopify makes selling easy for you. 

Is Shopify similar to Amazon?

Shopify and Amazon have different ways of selling products.

Amazon brings high traffic but more competition, while Shopify gives you the freedom to build your brand and customer base.

Which one should you choose?

If you want instant access to millions of shoppers, Amazon is the best choice, but you’ll face more competition and higher fees. If you prefer building your own brand and keeping more of your profits, Shopify is the better option.

Pro tip: Use both 

Many sellers use Amazon for high-traffic sales and Shopify for brand building and customer retention. By selling on both, you can get the best of both worlds, leveraging Amazon’s reach while maintaining control over your brand and profits through Shopify.

 Key features of Shopify

• Easy store setup: No coding needed.

• Sell everywhere: List products on Facebook, Instagram, and Amazon.

• Marketing tools: Improve SEO and run online ads.

• Track sales & customers: Use reports to understand what’s working.

• Dropshipping support: Use apps like Oberlo to sell without inventory.

• Amazon integration: Sync your Shopify store with Amazon listings

Shopify pricing and plans

Shopify has different pricing plans to suit businesses of all sizes. Each plan includes important features like website hosting, security, and eCommerce tools. 

Which plan should you choose?

• Basic Shopify is a great option if you’re just starting out and need a simple online store to list your products and start making sales.

• Shopify is ideal if you’re growing and need better analytics, discounted shipping rates, and more tools to optimize your store.

• Advanced Shopify is best if you’re selling at high volumes and want the lowest transaction fees, advanced reporting, and customized shipping rates.

As an Amazon seller, you might start with basic Shopify to test the platform and later upgrade as your business scales. Shopify gives you the flexibility to grow at your own pace, ensuring you always have the right tools to support your success. You can go for the Shopify development service for your business growth. 

Benefits of using Shopify

Keep more of your profits

Amazon takes a referral fee (15% or more) for each sale, which can eat into your earnings. With Shopify, you set your own prices and avoid these marketplace fees, keeping more of your money. Over time, this adds up, giving you greater control over your revenue.

Build your brand and customer loyalty

On Amazon, you don’t own customer relationships. Shopify allows you to collect customer emails, create loyalty programs, and build a brand people trust, leading to repeat customers. Shopify lets you collect customer emails, offer discounts, create loyalty programs, and build trust with your audience. 

This helps you create repeat buyers and increase customer lifetime value, something that’s much harder to achieve on Amazon.

Sell in more places

If you only sell on Amazon, you depend entirely on one platform. Shopify lets you sell through your own website, social media, and even in person, reducing your reliance on Amazon. This reduces your dependence on Amazon and helps you reach new customers. Here, social media marketing is the best way to sell more with the right content creation. 

Spend less on advertising

Amazon ads can be expensive and highly competitive. Shopify allows you to run cost-effective ads on Facebook, Google, and email marketing, helping you attract customers without overspending. This means you can attract customers without spending too much on ads.

Use Amazon FBA for fast shipping

If you already use Amazon FBA, you don’t have to change your fulfillment method. Shopify’s Multi-Channel Fulfillment (MCF) lets you ship orders through FBA while selling on Shopify, giving customers fast, reliable delivery. This allows you to offer fast and reliable shipping while still benefiting from Shopify’s features.

Wrap up 

Shopify is more than just an eCommerce platform, it’s a powerful tool that gives you freedom, flexibility, and control over your business. Whether you're an Amazon seller looking to expand, a small business owner building a brand, Shopify makes it easy to sell online and grow your business.

But success isn’t just about choosing the right platform, it’s about using it the right way. Our team of Amazon consultants helps you to seamlessly integrate Shopify, scale sales, and reduce ad spend while maximizing profits. Whether you're setting up a store, optimizing for conversions, or running multi-channel marketing, we’ve got you covered.